“Nursing is not just about treating illness; it’s about being there when it matters most”

My name is Rosalie. I’m originally from the Philippines, and I’ve been a nurse for nine years. I worked for three years in the Philippines, then moved abroad — first to Saudi Arabia, where I worked for another three years in neonatal care.

It was a very different kind of nursing, but I missed my family, so I went back home to the Philippines. My father had some connections with the cruise industry, so I tried working as a nurse on a cruise ship. I stayed there for six months — it was a good experience, but the rough seas were too much for me. I just wanted to try it so I wouldn’t regret not doing it.

After that, I went back to regular nursing. I knew I wanted to go abroad again, but on land this time — definitely not at sea! I applied to work in Ireland because I knew it was a culturally diverse country. I was lucky to get a job offer, and now I’m working at Galway Hospice. I’ve been here for a year.

Why I Became a Nurse

At first, I just wanted to help people. But on a deeper level, I wanted to be there during people’s most vulnerable moments. Two years ago, my mother passed away. That experience made it very personal for me.

For me, nursing is not just about treating illness — it’s about offering compassion, being there for someone when they feel alone, and giving them strength. Even when I can’t heal someone physically, I can offer comfort, listen, and be present. That’s what gives my work meaning. That’s what makes me feel like I’m a good nurse.

Learning Palliative Care

This is actually my first experience in palliative care. Before this, I worked in ICUs, neonatal units, and general wards. In those places, we often focused only on symptoms. We didn’t always have time to listen to our patients because of the workload.

But here, it’s different. Even when we can’t treat the illness, just being there — listening to their stories, offering a touch — brings comfort. They heal inside, emotionally. That was new to me, and it really inspired me.

I want to learn more — especially how to have difficult conversations. It’s not easy to give bad news to someone who’s already facing so much. But here, everyone is very supportive. When I first joined, we had training on how to deliver difficult news, and I learned so much from the experiences of other nurses here in Ireland.

Working as a Team

Where I worked before, especially in the Philippines, we were very understaffed. You did everything on your own. There wasn’t always support.

But here at Galway Hospice, everyone works together. If I don’t know how to handle a situation, I can talk to someone — and they’ll listen, they’ll share their experience. It makes me feel that I’m not alone.

The whole team is supportive — doctors, nurses, everyone. You feel like colleagues, like friends. They listen to you, they take your input seriously. You feel heard and valued. That’s really important.

– Rosalie, Nurse at Mayo Hospice